The 5 Best PC Joysticks for Flying on Your PC

People everywhere are booting up their computers and taking to the skies. With the huge launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2020, alongside the grounding of most real world travel, the desire to fly free is stronger than ever. With games like Microsoft Flight Simulator, along with Elite Dangerous and Star War: Squadrons, flying a real Boeing 747 or TIE Fighter has never been more fun.

But if you want to feel like a real, skilled pilot, you’ll need a dedicated flight controller.

What to Consider

Like flight simulators, the world of flight controllers is nuanced and complex. For a first-time buyer, it can get overwhelming quickly. The most important thing to consider is your individual need. Are you looking to simulate flying a real-life Cessna 172? Or are you more interested in arcade style combat games like in Star Wars: Squadrons and Ace Combat 7? Your answer will decide which controller is best for you.

For anyone new to flight simulation, the most popular control system is called a hands-on throttle-and-stick, or HOTAS. HOTAS systems include a flight stick for maneuvering your aircraft and a throttle for controlling your engine(s).

Low Joystick Supply in 2021

Due to the large influx of new flyers, demand for flight controllers has far outweighed supply, leading to some serious price gouging on some third party storefronts. We recommend you check the product’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to avoid being up-charged.

How We Selected

We strive to rigorously test every product we recommend. For those products we can’t test ourselves, we perform intensive research, review content from expert sources like PC Gamer, GamesRadar, PCGamesN, Polygon, and others, as well as thousands of consumer reviews from online storefronts on Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. As for the products themselves, we evaluated them on functionality, precision, design, and cost.